A morphometric study of human middle ear ossicles in cadaveric temporal bones of Indian population and a comparative analysis

Abstract

IntroductionMalleus, Incus and Stapes are the three middle ear ossicles which form an articulated chain and help in conduction of sound from external ear to inner ear. Morphometric study of these ossicles has been going since the early 60s. Although the methods of been changing due to advent of newer technologies and treatments. MethodsWe studied ossicles of 60 temporal bones. The ossicles have been obtained by ‘canal-wall down’ mastoidectomy technique. They have been measured by an open software, Fiji (https://imagej.nih.gov) where the scale was standardized and set to mm (millimeter). ResultsThe mean total length of the malleus is 8.23mm; a mean angle of 128.76°, mean width of the head 2.56mm, and mean length of manubrium is 4.17mm. The mean total length of incus is 7.04mm, mean angle of 97.23°, mean total width of 5.31mm, and mean length of long process is 3.27mm. The mean total height of stapes is 3.44mm; mean width of the footplate is 1.10mm and a mean angle of 51.01°. DiscussionMorphometric data obtained in the present study can be useful for the reconstructive procedures. Preoperative radiological assessment is advised for these small bones. The present study also emphasizes on the future directions where in reconstructive procedures can be improved with the artistic renderings of the blueprints provided, for new prosthetic designs which can be manufactured by using Teflon materials.